Each week I am going to have a blog post dedicated to a specific herb, mainly herbs you probably haven't heard of before. I'm calling this series....HERB OF THE WEEK.
This week, the herb I chose to highlight is WILD LETTUCE. When people think of lettuce they first think of a head of lettuce, a salad and so on. However, this type of "lettuce" isn't lettuce at all. Wild Lettuce is closely related to the dandelion, but packs more of a punch!
This week I was talking with a friend and we were discussing pain relief and anti-stress / anxiety relief and I brought up Wild Lettuce. He had never heard of Wild Lettuce before and as soon as I showed him a picture, he instantly knew what it was. Growing up as a kid in Iowa, he said that "that weed was everywhere". He said that Wild Lettuce grew in most backyards (assuming you didn't spray for weeds), in the cracks of sidewalks, and in the woods and if you were to pull it (or weed it) and the stem (or stalk) would break, a white, milky, puss-like substance would come oozing out and it would make your fingers and hands itch a tiny bit and become numb for a period of time.
That milky substance is known as lactucarium. This substance has a sedative-like / pain relieving effect and if used in excess can put you in a mild euphoric or hallucinogenic state of mind. That's why some even like to think of it as the "poor mans opium". I prefer to think of this herb as "natures best pain reliever".
Benefits of Use:
Help with Alzheimer's disease symptoms
Ease Arthritis and joint pain
Aid in Asthma treatment
Helps treat coughs
Helps treat Insomnia
Used to lessen Menstrual pain
Treats UTI issues
Aids in treating restlessness and anxiety
Helps ease pain from headaches and migraines
Dosage Info:
Even though there are no conclusive reports as to how much Wild Lettuce you can consume at once, it is recommended that you not exceed 400-500mg per day.
Also, due to it's toxicity levels, it is not recommended to be eaten in it's raw form and should be taken in either a pill form, as a tincture, or can be smoked.
Precautions:
If you're pregnant, have an enlarged prostate, have allergies to ragweed (or related plants) or have glaucoma, it is highly recommended that you NOT take Wild Lettuce in any form.
If you're interested in obtaining Wild Lettuce in a pill, tincture or smoke blend, drop me a note and this can be specially made just for you!
Next Week.......Motherwort is our featured herb, stay tuned for more info on this exciting herb!
If you enjoy this post, share it with your friends and if you have suggestions or want to learn more about a specific topic, drop me a note at jessica@herballyanointed.com OR click on the chat icon at the bottom right of your screen and I will reply as quickly as possible.
Thanks for reading and blessings to you!
NOTE: Please remember, the information contained here is for educational purposes only and isn't meant to treat, diagnose, prevent, or cure any disease. Before taking / using any of these items, please consult your doctor; especially if you're pregnant and/or taking any prescription medication.